Quarterback Matthew Stafford returned Monday from the Rams’ off week with no restrictions associated to a again problem, and receiver Cooper Kupp took a step towards probably coming again in time for the sport Sunday towards the Las Vegas Raiders.
Offensive lineman Joe Noteboom’s window to return from injured reserve might open relying upon his exercises with trainers this week, McVay mentioned.
Stafford, 36, was hit 10 instances and sacked 3 times on Oct. 6 throughout a 24-19 defeat to the Inexperienced Bay Packers. The day after, McVay mentioned the Sixteenth-year professional was experiencing again soreness.
Earlier than apply Monday, McVay mentioned Stafford was “feeling really good” and was “not going to miss any time.” Stafford confirmed no indicators of pressure in the course of the a part of the exercise open to reporters.
Kupp, 31, has not practiced or performed since struggling an ankle damage throughout a rout by the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 15.
The eighth-year professional was scheduled to work with trainers on the sphere Monday.
“There is a possibility he could be ready this week,” McVay mentioned. “There’s also a possibility that he might not be ready.”
The Monday exercise, and the way Kupp responds, will dictate “his availability” for practices Wednesday, Thursday and Friday “if he’s going to play this week,” McVay mentioned.
After taking part in the Raiders at SoFi Stadium, the Rams will play host to the Minnesota Vikings on “Thursday Night Football.” The Rams is not going to rush Kupp, the 2021 NFL offensive participant of the 12 months, to return.
Cooper Kupp’s exercises early this week will decide whether or not he’ll take part in apply and will return to motion for the Rams.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Related Press)
“He’s an experienced player — he knows what it looks like to have his body in alignment to return to performance, not just to return to play,” McVay mentioned, including, “Ultimately, it’s about when is he ready to go and be the guy that we’ve been accustomed to seeing. … He’s feeling good. He’s feeling optimistic. But he’s also very aware of what that looks like to be ready to roll and to maybe not be there quite yet.”
The break within the schedule final week enabled the Rams to “reflect, get recharged, get refreshed and get rejuvenated in a lot of instances,” McVay mentioned. A number of gamers mentioned they returned to their house states to go to household and mates.
Final season, the Rams had been 3-6 at their break, after which returned to win seven of eight video games.
“Whether you look at it as a positive or a negative, we’ve been in this situation before,” McVay mentioned, “and what we are going to choose to do is swing, and continue to focus on the things that we can improve.”
The Rams have a blueprint for a turnaround, receiver Tutu Atwell mentioned.
“Just use that same approach that we did last year,” he mentioned. “And just work a little harder. Step up and play as we’re known for … and once we get that on track we’ll be a good football team.”
It stays to be seen what, if any, modifications McVay and his employees make within the lineup.
In opposition to the Packers, cornerback Darious Williams returned from a hamstring damage that sidelined him for the primary 4 video games. Cobie Durant, Ahkello Witherspoon and Josh Wallace began at cornerback, however Williams performed about half the snaps.
Cornerback Tre’Davious White was inactive due to a training resolution. The Rams signed White, an eighth-year professional coming off Achilles surgical procedure, with the expectation that he would ease into a job as soon as the season started.
White had made nice strides, nonetheless, and when Derion Kendrick suffered a season-ending knee damage on the primary day of coaching camp and Williams suffered a hamstring damage on the second, White’s workload accelerated.
He opened the season taking part in extra snaps than deliberate, and gave up a number of large performs. Nonetheless, McVay praised White.
“He did a great job of being ready to go,” McVay mentioned.
And so on.
Defensive lineman Kobie Turner didn’t apply due to an excused absence, a workforce official mentioned.
